Device for opening paper cartons



P 1952 J. D. EADES 2,609,715

DEVICE FOR OPENING PAPER CARTONS Filed April 25, 1947 2 swam-swan: 1

- Q mm 24- FIG. I.

24 22 Z I I 3 36 3a 38 r 3q I FIG. 4. FIG. 5.

. 48 5o 4 5 44- r WJ/ ---46 FIG. 6. FIG. 7.

INVENTOR.

JAMES D. EADES ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 J. D. EADES DEVIQE FOR OPENINGPAPER CARTONS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April 23, 1947 FIG 9.

FIG. 8.

FIG. IO.

FIG. I-l.

INKENTOR. JAMES D. EADES ATTORNY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 I UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,609,715 DEVICE FOR OPENING PAPER cAR'roNs James 1).Eades, Wichita, Kans. Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743,329 3Claims. (01. s -e) This invention relates to improvements in devices foropening paper cartons. More particularly this invention relates to animproved device that can be inserted beneath the opening tab of a papercarton and used to raise that tab and open the carton. I

Many marketable products must, because of their form and nature, bevended in containers that are liquid-tight and air-tight for allpractical purposes. Such containers must prevent efflux of the contentsand must also prevent influx of water, dirt and other materials; andwhere the containers are properly constructed and sealed they doactually perform the required functions. In some instances thecontainers are made of glass and are sealed with a closure that can beremoved from the container without rendering the container unusable, andin such instances the used containers can be collected and re-used. Inother instances, to avoid the cost of collecting and cleaning the usedcontainers, the containers are made so the opening or removal of theclosure will prevent re-use of the containers; and in those instancesthe containers are usually made of inexpensive material such as paper.Paper containers of this sort are quite practical and have been usedeffectively, but some difiiculty has been experienced by the ultimateconsumer in opening those containers. The containers are customarilyprovided with tabs or flaps that are intended to be grasped by theultimate consumer, who quite frequently is a housewife, and pulled toopen the container. The tabs or flaps are Sometimes formed so they canbe folded against the side of the container during storage and shipmentbut can be bent outwardly from the sides of the container to make iteasy for the ultimate consumer to grasp them and open the container. Intheory the folding of the tabs or flaps against the sides of thecontainers is highly desirable because it keeps the tabs and flaps frombeing torn off or being pulled open during storage and shipment of thecontainers. In actual practice, however, the need of holding the tabs orflaps out of the way during storage and shipment, and the need of makingthe paper of the container absolutely liquid-tight, often results in theformation of containers wherein the tabs and flaps are stuck so tightlyagainst the sides of the containers that the ultimate consumers mustinsert a thin-edged object between the sides of the containers and thetabs or flaps to pry up the tabs or flaps. Ultimate consumers, andparticularly those consumers who are housewives, have been known to usenail files, knives, can openers and even their finger nails to try andpry up the tabs or flaps. The use of the nail files, knives, can openersand similar sharpinstrumentsis objectionable because such instrumentscaninflict serious injuries on the user if they are handled in a carelessmanner; and in addition they can cut or otherwise weaken the tabsorflaps to such an extent that the tabs or flaps will be torn off beforethe container is opened. Theme of the housewifes finger nails is alsoobjectionable because it cannot help but cause frequent breakin of thosenails. The present invention obviates these objections by providing athin-edged opening tool that is safe and easy to use and can be insertedbetween the sides of the containers and used to pry up the tabs orflaps, It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide athin-edged opening tool that is safe and easy to use and can be insertedbetween the sides of the containers and the tabs or flaps of thosecontainers to pry up the tabs or flaps.

The tabs or flaps of paper containers are usually locatedadjacentperforations or cuts: in the containers; and once the tabs or flaps havbeen pulled up, the perforations or cuts will yield and break away toform an opening in the container. This opening permits emptying of thecontents of the container as desired. In many instances, however, one orthe other of the perforations or cuts will not break cleanly and animperfect opening of the container will ensue. This is undesirablebecause it prevents proper closing of the container and it may alsoresult in such a tearing of the container that the container can leak.Such imperfect opening is avoided by the use of the opening tool of thepresent invention. That tool has a wide edge which is coextensive withthe edge of the tab or flap; and th ed e of the tool can apply auniformly distributed force to the tab or flap, thus preventing, unevenopening of the container. It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide an opening tool which has an edge that iscoextensive with the edge of the tab or flap.

In those instances where the tab or flap of the container is normallyfolded against the side of ing tool by-passes the Weakspot of the tab orflap. It is therefore an object of the present invention .to provide anopening tool with anedge that can act upon the portion of the tab orflap of a paper container that is above the fold in that tab or flap. I

The taberaising edge of theopening tool of the present invention neednot be very sharp but it 3 must be quite thin to enable it to passbetween the tab or flap of the container and the sides of the container.Consequently, even though the edge of the opening tool is not sharp itcould. like many another thin-edged article, break the skin of theultimate consumer if it was caused to strike the consumers skin withsufi'iciently.

great force. Such action is not anticipated with the opening tool of thepresent invention since very little force is required in using thattool;

but in view of the many accidents that daily oc-- our in the home, andin view of the fact that persons have out themselves on the edges of Theundercut portion 29 cooperates with the bulbous portion 39 of theopening tool 20 to hold seemingly harmless things, such as sheets ofpaper, it is desirable to prevent accidental and even deliberateinjuries from the use of thisopening tool. The present invention makesthis possible by positioning the edge of the tool immediately adjacentthe handle of the tool, thus providing broad surfaces adjacent the edgethat would fend off the person of the user. It is therefore an object ofthe present invention to provide an opening tool which has the edgethereof positioned immediately adjacent the handle of that tool.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription.

In the drawing and accompanying description a number of preferredembodiments of the invention are shown and described but it is to beunderstood that the drawing and accompanying description are for thepurposes of illustration only and do not limit the invention and thatthe invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an opening tool made in accordance with theprinciples and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the opening tool shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the opening tool shown in Figs. 1and 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of another form of opening tool madein accordance with the principles and teachings of the presentinvention,

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the opening tool shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of still another 7 form of openingtool made in accordanoe with the principles and teachings of the presentinvention,

Fig. '7 is an end elevational view of the opening tool shown in Fig. 6,C Fig. 8 is aside elevational view of an adjustable opening tool made inaccordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,his 'a left-hand, end-eleva tional view of the openingtool shown in Fig.8,

Fig; 10 is a perspective view of a paper container with which theopening-tool of FigsQ 1 -3 is being used, and

' 11 is 'a perspective vicwofthe container shown in Fig. 10 asthatcontainer has been opened by the opening tool ofFigs. l -3. 1

Referring to the drawing in detail the numeral 2 generally denotes anopening tool made in accordance with the principles and-teachings of thepresent invention. 7 'Theopening tool 23 has anelongated handle 22 whichis provided with an opening 2% at one end thereof. The opening 24facilitates hanging of the opening tool from a nail or by a string orany other suitable means.

the edge 22 at a definite inclination to the side of the container, andwhen the edge 28 is inserted between the side of a container and the tabor flap of that container, the inclination of the edge '28 and slot 25will cause the tab or flap to move outwardly from the side of thecontainer. The slot 26 is preferably dimensioned so it just receives thetab or flap ofthe paper container and so the opening edge 28 can fit upabove the fold which is usually provided in the tab or flap. By doing sothe'opening edge 28 presses against the portion of the tab or flap abovethe fold, thus reducing the likelihood of tearing off 'of the tab orflap along the fold before the container has been opened. The openingedge 28 is immediately adjacent the handle 22, thus enabling the handle22 to provide wide surfaces that can fend oil any objects, as forexample the person of the se'r. Moreover, by having the handle 22immediately adjacent the edge 28 it is possible for the user to placehis thumb against the tab or flap and press the tab or flap tightlyagainst the edge 28; thus'enabling the user to get a firm grasp on thetab or flap while backing up the tab or iiap and thus preventing tearingor folding of the tab or flap.

While the edge 28 is thin, as it must be to pass between the tab or flapof the container and the side of that container, it is not a sharpenededge and it will not cut the person of the user. Moreover, by beingpositioned immediately adjacent the handle 22 of the opening tool 20,the edge 28 is protected and will be held away from the personof theuser.

In Figs. 4 and -5 another embodiment of the present invention is shownand described, and the embodiment consists of an opening tool which isgenerally denoted by the numeral 32. That tool has a handle 3 3- whichis provided with a slot 36 at one end thereof. The slot 35 is preferablydimens'i'oned so it will just receive the tab or flap of a papercontainer. The outer wall of the slot terminates in the opening edge 38,and immediatel below the opening e'dge 38 is an undercut portion 39. Theundercut portion 39 is on the outer surface of the outer wall of slotand it permits theopenin'g edge 38 to be moved immediately adjacent theside of the container even though some variation-occurs in theinclination of the'openi'ng tool'32 relative to the side ofthe'container. Spaced below the undercut portion 39 is afbulb'oussection-of arouate-form 40 that-can cooperate with the'und'ercut portion39 to :cause the opening edge 38 and slot 36 to be inclined to the sideof the container. As a result, when the opening edge 38 is moved betweenthe tab or flap'of the container and the side of that container,thated'ge will force the tab or flap to move away froh' i-the side ofthe container. The reentrant 'p-ortiorrat the right hand end of theopening tool 32 o'iFigs. 4 and 5 has inclined portions i'z that areangularly disposed to the stud which .extendsiupwardly from the portion40 of arcuate form. The-inclined portions'42 carry out theform' andshape of the slot 36, thus confining the tab or flaplinla slot of thedesired size and configuration. Here again the edge 38 is quite thin soit can be inserted easily between the tab or flap and the side of thepaper container, and yet it is not a sharpened edge. Moreover, the edge38 is immediately adjacent the handle 34, and the handle 34 tends tofend off the person of the user. Thus the present invention protects theperson of the user from cutting by the edge 38 even though excessivelylarge forces were to be used in bringing the opening tool 32 intocontact with the person of the user.

In Figs. 6 and 7 still another embodiment of the present invention isshown and described, and that embodiment is denoted generally by thenumeral 44. The opening tool 44 has a handle 46 and it has a slot 48 atone end thereof. The upper end of the slot terminates in the openingedge 50. The opening edge 50 has an undercut portion 5| immediatelyadjacent thereto and that undercut portion enables the edge 50 to bemoved into close proximity with the sides of the container. Thereentrant portion at the right hand end of Fig. 6 is formed to dimensionthe slot 48 so it will receive the tab or flap of the paper container,and that reentrant portion provides a tapered, ever-decreasing width forthe slot 48. Such a configuration enables the slot 48 to grip the loweredge of the tab or flap, and such gripping facilitates quick and cleanopening of the container. The reentrant portion of opening tool 44 has astud 52 projecting therefrom and angularly disposed thereto. The lowerend of the stud 52 will tend to hold the edge 50 and the slot 48 at anangle to the side of the container, so upward movement of tool 44 willmove the tab or flap of the paper container away from the side of thatcontainer. Again the edge 50 of the opening tool is not a sharpenededge, and it is positioned immediately adjacent the handle 46 of theopening tool 44 so that there is no possibility of having the edge 58cut the person of the user.

In Figs. 8 and 9 an adjustable opening tool is shown, and that tool isdenoted generally by the numeral 54. The opening tool 54 has a handle 56which is provided with a thin opening edge 58. The opening edge 58 isformed on an upstanding bend in the handle 56, and that upstanding bendhas an undercut portion 59 immediately below the opening edge 58. Aslide 6|], which is provided with folded edges that engage the sides ofthe handle 56 and prevent accidental disengagement of the slide 60 fromthe handle 56, is provided with an upwardly extending gooseneck 6 l. Thegooseneck 6| has an edge which is inclined toward and can extend to andcontact the rear of the upstanding bend of the handle 56. The slide 60can be moved back and forth by the thumb of the user but it cannot beseparated from the handle 56 because of the crimps 51 in the handle.When the slide 60 is moved to the right in Fig. 8, the edge on thegooseneck 6| will pinch the tab or flap of a paper container against theupstanding bend of the handle 56. In this way the opening tool 54assures a firm and complete grip on the tab or flap, thus permitting theupward movement of the opening tool 54 to cause opening of the tab orflap. The slide 60 permits the opening tool 54 to accommodate tabs orflaps of varying thickness.

In the various opening tools shown in the drawing, the opening edges arequite wide and they are preferably made coextensive with the edge of thetab or flap, so that the tab or flap will receive full and completesupport and so the forces applied to it will be distributed uniformlyacross its entire 6 width. This avoids tearing of the tab or flap andthus avoids partial and incomplete opening of the container.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the manner of using the opening tool of Figs. 1 to 3in opening a paper container is shown. The paper container 62 has a tabor flap 64 that is adjacent perforations 66 in the wall of thecontainer. In using the opening tool 28 the edge 28 is pressed againstthe sides of the paper container 62 and moved upwardly until it wedgesitself between the flap 64 and the side of the container 62. The thumbof the user can then be pressed against the tab or flap 64 to hold thattab or flap against the edge 28, and thereupon an outward and upwardmovement or force is applied to the opening tool 20, causing outward andupward movement of the flap 64 and consequent opening of the side of thecontainer as shown particularly in Fig. 11. The opening tool 20, as wellas the other opening tools of the drawing can be used in this manner;and when so used they will apply firm but gentle forces to the tab orflap and will cause opening of the container without tearing of that tabor flap. The opening tool 20, as well as opening tool 32, could beprovided with a tapered slot like the slot 48 of opening tool 44.Similarly, if desired, the opening tool 44 could be provided with a slotlike slots 26 and 36 of tools 20 and 32.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown anddescribed several pre ferred embodiments of the present invention itshould be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the form of the invention without affecting the scopethereof.

What I claim is:

l. A tool for lifting the tabs or flaps of paper cartons and the likecomprising a. handle having a l y-e d substantially U-shaped offset atone end thereof with one leg of the U attached to the handle and theother le free, the space between the legs of the U being inclinedrearwardly toward the handle and the forward face of the free leg of theU being undercut adjacent its free end with the upper end of the forwardface of said free end merging into the rear face of said leg to form apenetrating point and a spaced fulcrum surface whereby the free end maybe inserted under a flap and the tool rocked about said fulcrum point tolift the tab.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which the penetrating point and thefulcrum surface lie in a common plane.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which the free leg of the U isprovided with a tongue struck therefrom and inclined downwardly andrearwardly toward the other leg of the U to define said inclined spacebetween the legs of the U.

JAMESD. EADES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 264,696 Hillard Sept. 19, 1882687,214 Entrekin Nov. 26, 1901 787,857 Pilger Apr. 18, 1905 927,653Heckman July 13, 1909 1,305,899 Hazel June 3, 1919 1,885,260 HoglindNov. 1, 1932 1,898,853 Raaen Feb. 21, 1933 1,913,816 Osborne June 13,1933 1,963,632 Smith June 19, 1934

